Older adults Flashcards
Lentigines
liver spots
appears as a wartlike growth that looks pasted on; found mostly on the back; color can range from tan to brown to black. Memory tip: The letter b in seborrheic is a reminder for benign.
seborrheic keratosis
a grayish-to-white ring in the margin of the cornea or on the periphery of the iris (cholesterol deposits).
arcus senilis
The most common cause of blindness in the United States is
macular degeneration
S4 is considered
normal in older adults
— and —- decreases with age but residual volume increases
FEV1 and FEV2
New onset or sudden increase in number of floaters or specks on the visual field, flashes of light, and the sensation that a curtain is covering part of the visual field. Considered a medical emergency that can lead to blindness if not treated. Risk factors are extreme nearsightedness, history of cataract surgery, and family or personal history of retinal detachment. Treated with laser surgery or cryopexy (freezing).
Retinal detachment
colorectal cancer screening begins at what age
45 - 75
If the chemistry profile shows marked elevations in the serum calcium and/or alkaline phosphatase, it is suggestive of
cancerous metastasis of the bone
most common cause of dementia in the US is
alzheimers
second cause of dementia in the US is
vascular dementia
Any dementia primarily caused by cerebrovascular disease or cerebral blood flow (e.g., multi-infarct/ischemic damage due to atherosclerotic plaques, bleeding, and/or blood clots)
vascular demenentia
Aggregated alpha-synuclein protein is a key component of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites
Core clinical features include cognitive fluctuations, visual hallucinations, REM sleep behavior disorder, and parkinsonism (muscle rigidity, tremors). Executive function is impaired with fluctuations in alertness and cognition; sensitive to adverse effects of neuroleptics.
Dementia of Lewy bodies
Inability to recognize familiar people or objec
agnosiaa
apraxia
difficulty perfomring learned motor tasks
cardinal features of parkinsons is
tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity
Starting at dusk/sundown, the patient becomes very agitated, confused, and combative; symptoms resolve in the morning; seen more with dementia; recurs commonly.
sundowning phenomenon
mild to moderate dementia (MMSE 10 - 26) start what medication
cholinestrase inhibitor such as donepezil (aricept), exelon
moderate to severe dementia MMSE <18 add
namenda
first line treatment for essential tremor is
beta blocker propranolol
essential tremor
acton tremor
Selegiline (Eldepryl) is an MAO type B inhibitor. Avoid
Avoid tyramine-containing foods and caffeine due to risk of hypertensive crisis or serotonin syndrome. Drugs that alter serotonin are SSRIs, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), TCAs, and MAOIs. Discontinue treatment if any symptoms arise.
Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease is associated with
low serum vitamin B12 levels due to levodopa. Check vitamin B12 level.
Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome is caused by
vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency.